harris



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet L.

J. N. HARRIS.

V AXLE LUBRIOATOR.

No. 351,765. Patented Nov. 2, 188 6 Fig 4.--

(No Model.) 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. N. HARRIS.

AXLE LUBRICATOR.

No. 351,765. Patented Nov. 2, 1886.

WITNESSES:

3 Sheets--Sheet 3.

J. N. HARRIS.

AXLE LUBRIGATOR.

Patented Nov. 2, 1886.

. INVENTOR: WITNESSES. 8 WM 89M By his Attorneys, I gw (EK 0M kn fi UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

J. NELSON HARRIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN AXLE AND WHEEL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

AXLE-LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,765, dated November 2, 1886.

Application filed March 5,1886. Sorta] No. l9l,l22l. (No model.)

The object is to enable axle-grease or other semi-solid lubricating materials to be used in axles of this class.

According to my invention the axle-arm is bored out axially with a cylindrical bore, from the inner end of which a passage leads to the bearing-surface of the axle and communicates with a groove traversing the bearingsurface. In the bore is fitted a piston,whicl1 is propelled forward by a screw, and which,

being moved forward a little from time to time, forces the grease contained in the bore out through said passage and groove to the bearing-surface. The preferred construction consists in screw-threading the bore and cutting screw-threads upon the exterior of the piston, so that upon turning the latter by means of a key it screws forward into the bore.

I have shown my invention as applied to what is known as the Jones axle and hub,

patented October 2, 1883, and reissued April 21, 1885, No. 10,583, to the American Axle and Wheel Company.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal mid-section of the Jones axle and hub provided with my invention in its preferred form. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the end portion of the key, and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the piston. The remaining figures illustrate modifications. Fig. 5 is a; similar view to Fig. 1,. and Fig. 5 is a plan of the piston shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is aview of the axle alone, showing a further modification; and Fig. 7 is a plan of the piston shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of an axle and hub, showingstill another modification, wherein a tubular greasereceptacle formed on the axle-plug is inserted in the bore in the axle. Fig. 9 is an elevation of this receptacle and the axle-plug removed, and Fig. 10 is an elevation of the piston and propelling-screw removed.

Referring generally to the drawings, let A designate the axle, of which B is the square bed, and O is the arm.

D is the axle-box or inner portion of the hub, and E is the mortise-ring or outer portion thereof.

FF are the spokes, which are tenoned at their inner ends and driven into mortises formed in the ring E.

The box D of the hub is united to the ring E, preferably by being forced thereinto by hydraulic pressure, or by having the ringshrunk upon it; but the particular construction is immaterial to my present invention.

The axle A is the Jones axle, with some modification in proportions. The arm is cylindrical, is of greater diameter than the cornerwise thickness of the bed, and joins the latter with a curved or tapering neck, (lettered N,) which, as here shown, is longer than in the said Jones patent, its diameter being equal to the cornerwise thickness of the bed, and somewhat less than the diameter of the arm. The arm is made hollow to form a chamber, G, for the lubricating material, and this chamber is closed by the screwing of aplug or cap, -H, into the end of the arm. This plug H is formed with a flange, d, which, when the plug 'is screwed down to its shoulder, is thereby fixed at an invariable distance from the end of the arm. Between this flange and the end face of the-arm projects an internal flange, e, on the box D of the hub, and on opposite sides of this flange e are placed leather washers f and g, which act as cushions to take the shock of the end-thrusts. The outer end of the box D is externally screw threaded, and on it screws a cap, 1, which covers the plug H and excludes the dust. The inner end of the box D is also threaded, and on it screws a ring, thimble, or collar, J, which has a flange'projecting inward toward the neck of the axle.

The parts and features thus far described form no novel part of my present invention, nor is this construction of axle and hub essential to it. I have illustrated it because it is well adapted to my invention.

ICO

I will now proceed to describe my present invention in its preferred form, referring to Figs. 1 to 4.

The chamber G is a cylindrical bore, which in this construction is screw-threaded throughout its length, the screw-thread being a continuation of that which is engaged by the plug H. From the inner end of this chamber a passage, It, extends to the outside of the arm.

ID This is formed by boringin from the outside,

bypreference at an angle, asshown. Along the outside or bearing-surface of the arm a groove,

1', is formed, which communicates with the passage h. In lieu of this groove, the arm may I 5 be flattened, if preferred.

P is a piston, which enters the chamber G, and may be screwed back or forth therein. The piston has male screw-threads cut in its periphery,

2c female threads in the chamber G. By turning the piston in either direction it thusscrews into or out of the chamber. In one side of the piston is formed a square socket, k, which is engaged by the squared end of a key, K.

2 (Shown in Fig. 3.) In the plug His'a hole,j, through which this key is thrust to engage the piston.

Fig. 1 showsthe chamber G empty. To fill it the cap I and plug H are removed, and the piston P is screwed out by means of the key K. The lubricant, which should be axle-grease or other suitable lubricant in a semi-solid or pasty condition, is then inserted in the chamber G, and packed in until the'chamber is nearly full. The piston is then enteredvand screwed back until it bears against the mass of grease. The plug H will then be inserted,

the piston having been run in far enough to permit the plug to be screwed up tight to its 0 shoulder. The key K may then be inserted through the hole j, and the piston be turned until it forces the grease through the passage h and fills the groove '1', and until it flows over from this groove upon the axle and down upon both sides thereof in the form of athin film.

- be applied, and the wheel may be run. When the wheel again needs lubricating, the cap I is taken oft, the key K is inserted, and the 0 piston l is given one, two, or more turns forward, thus forcing out a little more grease upon the axle-bearing. This should be done about once a. week. Vhen the piston has been screwed up to the extreme end of the 5 5 chamber, it must be taken out and the chamber G refilled with grease. The inclination of the passage h is in order to direct the grease toward the farther end of the axle.

- Fig. 5 shows a construction which difl'ers from the one just described only in that the piston P has a square hole or socket, k, through its center, and a square bar or key,

K, extends through the chamber G, having end bearings at the innner end of the chamber 6 and in the hole j in the plug H, through which the squared end q of the bar projects,where it as shown in Fig. 4, to engage the the bearing-surface of The cap I may then may be engaged by a wrench or key. On turning this bar K the piston P is also turned, and is consequently moved forward.

Fig. 6 shows another construction in which the chamber G is not screw-threaded, but has a plain cylindrical inner surface. The piston .P is madewith a face, 12, of leather, backed by a disk of metal, r,as shown in Fig. 7. Thismetal disk has a screw-threaded hole, s, through its center, which is engaged by a screw-rod, S. which passes longitudinally through the chamber G and has bearings at its opposite ends,

the same as the rod K in Fig. 5. the squared end q of this screw it propels the piston P forward. The piston is keptfrom turning with the screw by being made a loose fit with the screw and a very tight fit in the cylindrical chamber G. ing the chamber with a longitudinal groove or spline. A slight rotation or twisting movement of the piston does no harm. The leather p may be in the form of a. cupped leather packing, if desired.

Fig. 8 shows a further modification of the construction shown in Fig. 6. A cylindrical tube, T, which may be of drawn brass, is fastened on the reduced end of the plug H by rivets t t, as shown, or otherwise. This tube thus becomes a part of the plug H, being inserted and removed with it, and constitutes a grease-receptacle. It fits into the chamber G, freely but closely, so as to leave no unnecessary space around it, and when in place its end extends into the chamber as far as the passage h, as shown. Fig. 9 shows this tube and the plug H removed. The piston P fits closely in the tube T, and has a tubular boss, P, projecting outwardly from its center, as shown in Fig. 10, the end of this boss being internally threaded for engagement with the screw S. This screw extends from its bearing in the holej only about half-way through the tube T, as shown. Before filling with grease, the piston P is screwed back to the shoulder on the screw S and entered to the bottom of the tube T'. The piston then comes against the end of the plug, while its boss P enters into the recess or hollow b in the plug H. The grease is then stuffed into the tube On turning T until it is full, whereupon the tube is inserted into the chamber G, and the plug H is screwed in tight. The screw S must then be turned to propel the piston forward and force the grease out through the passage h and groove t onto the bearing-surface. This construction has the advantage that the greasereceptacle can be removed bodily from the axle for filling. Any suitable known mechanical expedient may be resorted to in order to keep the piston P from turning in the tube T. When the piston-has moved forward to the end of the tube, the threaded end of its boss P is still in engagement with the screw S.

In each construction the screw will be cut with a right-hand thread'for the wheels on one side of the vehicle, and with a left-hand I prefer this to making from the collar.

thread for those on the other side, so that in order to propel the piston P forward the screw or key (as the case may be) will be turned in the same direct-ion that the wheel turns.

My invention has the important practical advantage that the axles may be greased without removing the wheels.

, The collarJ may be packed wit-h some loose packing material, in order to bear against the neck of the axle and exclude the dust, as shown in Fig. l. I prefer, however, to make this collar with the opening in its flange large enough to permit the passage through it of the arm of the axle, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8, so that when the wheel is taken off this collar may come with it, and to omit any pack The greasewhich works out from the bearing-surfaces of the axle and hub gathers in the recess thus made and hardens, effectually excluding dust from the bearing and eventually filling the recess.

In Fig. 5 the collar J is shown as being permanently connected by being forcedonto the projecting end ofthe box; or it may be made in one piece with the box or with the ring F.

I am well aware that attempts have been heretofore made to adaptaxlegrease and other lubricants to be fed by pressure onto the bearing-surfaeesofvehicle-axlesbutinnoinstance, so far as I have been able to ascertain, has the grease been contained in a chamber in the axlearm and forced out therefrom by means of a screw-propclled piston working in the arm.

I am aware that tallow-cups for machinerybearings have been provided with screwpropelted pistons for expelling the tallow onto the hearing; but these cups have been arranged exterior to the bearing and have not been applicable to vehicle-axles.

I claim as my invention 1. A vehicle-axle formed with achamberin its arm for contz'iininga lubricant, and with a passage extending from said chamber to the exterior of the arm, in combination with a screw-propelled piston working in said chamber. and adapted,whcn advanced, to expel the lubricant onto the bearing-surface, substan tially as set forth.

2. A vehicle-axle formed with a chamber in its arm for containing alubricant, with a groove 3. A vehicle-axle formed with a chamber, G;

in its arm for containing a lubricant, with a longitudinal groove, z, traversing its bearingsurface, and with a passage, h, extending from the inner end of said chamber to said groove at an angle, thereby directing the issuing lubricant toward the outer end of the arm, in combination with a screw-propelled piston, P, working in said chamber, substantially as set forth.

4. A vehicle-axle formed with a chamber, G, in its arm for containing a lubricant, with a passage extending thence to the exterior of the arm, in combination with a screw-propellcd piston, P,working in said chamber,with a key for turning said piston, and with a plug, H, closing the end of the chamber, and formed with an axial hole, j, for the passage of the key, substantially as set forth.

5. A vehicle-axle formed with a chamber, G, in its arm for containing a lubricant, with a screwth read traversing the wall of said chamber, and a passage leading from said chamber to the exterior of the arm, in combination with a piston, P, having screw-threads on its periphery,and adapted to screw-into said chamber, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. NELSON HARRIS.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR O. FRASER, GEORGE H. FRASER. 

